May the fourth (round) be with you

Joe Pignataro

As we get into the first weekend of May, there’s plenty of questions swirling around leading into the conclusion of the first month of the 2023 William Buck Premier season. 

Will St Kevin’s and Old Brighton continue to pull away from the rest of the competition? 

Can Old Melburnians, University Blacks or Caulfield Grammarians find their first win of the season? 

Where will the Australia Cup be won in the battle of the two oldest footballing schools, Old Melburnians and Old Scotch? 

Who will come out on top in the battle of the Carmody Cup between Uni Blues and Old Xav’s? 

As well as answering the questions above, I’m looking at four players in round four from each team that (hopefully) will enjoy reading about themselves, and lift to perform this weekend. 

The RSN Xtra Match of the Day comes from Elsternwick Park in the 102nd meeting between Old Melburnians and Old Scotch. 

OM’s have opened the year facing off against the reigning Premiers, and last year’s finalists Old Xaverians in the opening three weeks. It’s been one of the toughest starts to 2023. 

Last week’s side featured a staggering 11 players who’ve played less than 7 senior games. It’s been wholesale changes for the Navy Blues. Jackson Paine, the club captain will have all eyes on him when 2:00 PM Saturday rolls around, he does lift on radio days. 

He will need to be supported by Ben Harding, who’s put together a nice opening month with Old Melburnians. The two Ed’s of Paul Satterley’s team round out the awesome foursome, Michelmore and Nichols (the 2021 VAFA Rising Star winner). 

The Cardinals are officially in the window. There’s no hiding that. Despite wanting to go under the radar. Mark Gnatt’s team blew the radar to smithereens with a 10-goal final quarter against University Blues last weekend. The whole competition is on notice. 

Old Scotch have lost the last two matches against OM’s in the Australia Cup fixture. Doug Lawrence seems the perfect match up for Jackson Paine, an old fashioned full back v full forward that this sort of contest deserves. Aiden Franetic is leading the midfield with distinction, contested possessions and clearances are right in his wheelhouse. While James Tarrant and Tyler Sellers have already kicked 15 goals between them in the front half. 

On paper, and on form, you can argue this one is in favour of Old Scotch, but I wouldn’t put it past Paul Satterley pulling a rabbit out of the hat in the coaches box ahead of the first bounce. 

The other cup up for grabs this weekend is out at the Melbourne Uni Oval. University Blues welcome Old Xaverians home for the second installment of the Carmody Cup. 

Established in 2022, Xav’s claimed the inaugural edition in Round 18 of last year. Prior to that victory, Blues have won the previous five encounters against Old Xav’s. 

Inaccuracy in front of goal has plagued Guy Martyn’s troops in the first month of the season. They’re certainly getting enough looks at goal winning clearances, hitouts to advantage and inside 50’s against their opponents. 

Was last week’s final quarter against the Cardinals an aberration, or is there more at play? 

Ayce Cordy is a proud footballer, Marty Gleeson leads the defence, Sam Grimley is a presence up forward, while Charlie Furphy takes ownership of the wing. These four players will need to be on their game this weekend if they’re to trump the Old Xaverians. 

The red and black mafia have used the opening month of the season as somewhat of a breeding ground for the next generation of stars. Through necessity and brilliant pre-season form, James Byrne has put his faith in 11 new faces throughout the first three rounds. 

It’s a very different looking side that featured in the 2022 finals series. Oscar Duncan (Round 2 Rising Star nominee), Tommy McRae, Tom Dunne, Harry Bell, and Ed Niall, this is the next set of stars all from the under 19 program. In Round 3, none other than Jordan Kelly, the rest of the team that took to the field was from Xavier College, or through the ranks of Under 19’s and reserves. 

Old Haileybury and Collegians will meet in William Buck Premier for the first time in 12 years. The last time they met, Round 18, 2011 – Collegians taking the chocolates. 

Peter Gleadhill is the only player that remains from that contest. The newcomers in Daniel Ward’s side though will see themselves as a worthy opponent for the purple army. 

Last weekend in the lead up to the game against University Blacks they were in search of respect from the rest of the competition. Brodie Steele, after a best on ground performance along with Corey Rich (4 goals) and Andreas Stefanakis bursting through the middle went a long way to putting the fellow nine sides in William Buck Premier on notice. 

Lachie Treverton, 62 hitouts in round 2, 52 hitouts in round 3, have Collegians got a match up capable of locking down on the big ruckman? 

On the flip side, has Daniel Ward got a match up for King Kenny Ong, and Gentleman Jim Bazzani in the midfield? 

Matt Warren is the general in defence, and not much more needs to be said about the presence of Dave Mirra. 

Outside of these four players, captain Sam Hibbins played minutes in the reserves on the weekend and is in line to be recalled, adding another string to Jared Rivers’ midfield bow. 

Over at T H King Oval, St Kevin’s are on an 11-game winning streak. Dating back to Round 13 of 2022. The last four times playing the University Blacks has fallen the way of SKOB. 

There’s plenty of hype around Josh and Mitch Wallis. Away from the two high-prized recruits, Nicholas Sing has slotted into the backline with relative ease. Given the shoes he has been asked to fill, left vacant by Conor Ross, Sing has held his own throughout the opening month of the season. 

Dale Bower certainly has the cattle capable of mixing it with the best in William Buck Premier. Fingers are crossed for Josh Steadman to put his hand up and be given the all-clear for Saturday. He is the most important player to the Blacks line-up. 

Co-captain Campbell Moorfield has put his name forward for Big V selection through our eyes. Lachie Knight has been durable and consistent for Uni Blacks across a number of years, while Ayui Makeing is primed to take a mark of the year contender before the end of 2023. 

Old Brighton head back home and will face off against Caulfield. The head-to-head battle is in favour of the Tonners (8-2), the last time the Fields won at BBO was in 2011. 

Under Dan Donati, I’m expecting that formline to continue. When the Tonners were last at home, they set up the win against Old Haileybury with five goals in the first 12 minutes. The scoring power happens in patches for Old Brighton. 

Four of the twelve quarters they’ve played this season, they have kicked five goals or more. Jamie Hope (Round 3 Rising Star nominee) has kicked eight goals for the season. Will it be Oscar Roberts in defence locking down on him?

Petrus Olivier, Tom Fisher and Harry Hill – Three best mates who reach milestones at the same time are a strong trio in the midfield. Max Lohan behind the ball needs more credit than he has been given. 

Without Campbell Tweedie, it’s an opportunity for Guy McKenna to unleash his twin towers up forward – Julian Dobosz and Hugh Sandilands. Can they stretch the Brighton defence? 

This weekend promises to answer the questions above, while at the same time providing us with a whole new set of questions next week as the competition continues to play out.

Photo: Old Xaverians FC